Around The World In 80 Covers And Other Unusual Themes

A collector with my club gave a presentation about philatelic displays last night. He drove home the point that it doesn't have to be serious or expensive, just fun.

Among the themes he displayed was one that caught my interest. Based on the Jules Verne novel, Around the world in 80 days, he created a presentation titled "Around the world in 80 covers". Starting with a cover from London to Egypt, he presented covers that were sent from country to country, eventually making it back to London. It was a brilliantly conceived display that had some amazing covers that he describes as being from "strange place to strange place".

Although this display took 5 years to compile, it allowed him to have a place for items that would not otherwise fit into his specialized collection. It also gave him something to look for at stamp shows and auctions to break the monotony of seeking out stamps for his specialized collections.

Afterall, how often does a dealer hear: "Do you have any covers from strange place to strange place?"

So along these lines I ask our forum members:

Have you created and/or displayed any unusual philatelic themes?

Do you have any ideas for unusual philatelic themes?

I'm really interested in exploring this idea .

Brian

What a fantastic idea.

I am considering a collection that would be called "The Many Faces of xxx" as an exhibition topic. At this point KGVI would be the easiest subject to build such a collection of. Of course Queen Victoria, KEVII and KGV would also be good subjects as well as certain US Presidents.

I do have a cover collection called "Cover the World" but it is just an assembly of covers from every stamp issuing authority. Now that I read your post it sounds kind of boring.

I have been developing small collections relating to my kids' names. My son is Douglas. I have items including postmarks from Douglas, Isle of man, there's the USA stamp of the Lincoln-Douglass debate (I am allowing the double-"S"!), and a Canadian commercial cover from a company on Douglas Street, Victoria, B.C.



I just put things aside as I come across them.

I really like the Round the World in 80 covers idea!

I believe he stated he will be sending his display to to the APS national topical show in Wisconsin this year. He seemed to delight in the fact that his exhibit doesn't really fit into any particular category :)

Around the world is a great idea for a collection. I wish him the best. I could use that line of reasoning to build a cover collection that takes the person from town to town along Route 66 beginning in Chicago IL and ending in Santa Monica (Los Angeles) CA. I should narrow it down a bit and start with one state. I would also only uses covers dated during the highways commissioning 1926-1985

i love this idea !! what a wonderful way to have a group of people participate from all over the world....

*bump*

Anyone else have creative or unusual themes behind your displays?

One of the esteemed members of my last stamp club,
had a few frames of "man's inhumanity to man" in postcards.

The collection must have taken most of his career
albeit as a sideline, and the postcards were gruesome
and horrific, beheadings and public executions etc.

Whilst I, amongst others felt it was confronting, it was, afterall,
correct and pertinent history of the postcard, and what
in other times was permissable in society.

I have a similar approach to '80 days/covers'. I collect covers which have been carried on hovercraft all over the place (plus postcards and other ephemera) and my talk/display is "Around the World in 80 Minutes". I do an A-Z trip, Arctic, Australia, Belgium, Canada etc through to Yangtze and Zanzibar. ALL initial letters covered, but a bit of cheating comes in to play with O, R and X but it's all good fun.
I am in the middle of assembling my talk as I have 2 presentations to give next year. It's been a few years since I received an invitation so the collection had all been returned to their rightful places in the albums.